Chirag Paswan Denies Any Link With Swatantra Bharadwaj Who Boasted Of Attacking Dalit Activist Sanjay At CJP Protest, Demands His Immediate Arrest
SUNIL NEGI
New Delhi, 4 Sept 2026
( Pictures grabbed from social media )
Union Minister and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan has categorically denied any association with Swatantra Bharadwaj, who had openly claimed in a podcast that he had attacked Sanjay, a Dalit youth activist, during a Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) demonstration and boasted of his relations with top BJP leaders including Chirag Paswan, Delhi Minister Kapil Mishra and even calling PM his elder brother.
The matter came to light after Swatantra Bharadwaj alias Swatantra Bharat admitted on a podcast that he was involved in the assault on Sanjay and claimed he was freely moving around because of his connections with powerful political bosses and no action was being taken against him despite the crime.
Taking serious note of the claim, Union Minister Chirag Paswan lodged a complaint with the police and demanded immediate stringent action against Swatantra Bharadwaj, saying if no action is taken it will set a wrong precedent.
Speaking to reporters, Paswan said after openly admitting about his crime in a podcast, police should immediately arrest him and a stringent case should be lodged under relevant sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) along with SC/ST Act provisions.
“Anyone can come to meet a minister to get their grievances resolved and take pictures. That does not mean he or she is known to us as claimed by this man named Swatantra Bharadwaj,” Paswan clarified. “He is trying to misuse my name and the name of other senior leaders. He should immediately be jailed and stringent legal action initiated against him.”
Chirag Paswan, son of late former Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan who was known as a champion of Dalit rights, asserted that his party and he are in total solidarity with Dalit youth Sanjay and would be ready to help him always.
“This is a matter related to atrocity against a Dalit. We will not tolerate such hooliganism in the name of our leaders. If someone has assaulted a Dalit activist and is boasting about it, he must face law,” Paswan said.
Police sources said complaint from Chirag Paswan’s office has been received and verification is underway. The victim Sanjay had earlier alleged he was attacked during CJP demonstration and police had not acted despite naming the accused.
The podcast admission by Swatantra Bharadwaj has gone viral on social media, triggering outrage with many Dalit organisations demanding his immediate arrest.
